Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8464 8464: Change _1

Feng Zhongxin's remarks left Wen Liren completely taken aback. Noticing the look on Wen Liren's face, Feng Zhongxin felt a hidden surge of delight inside, though he kept it well concealed. Putting on a thrilled demeanor instead, he declared, "If that treasure truly lies here, it would be fantastic. Remember, the Ghostwind bandits frequented this spot often. Oh, and there's that old tale about the elder from the Sharp Sword Sect clashing with the Ghostwind bandits—the site wasn't far from here, was it? Back then, even though this area belonged to the Thirteen Clan Alliance's domain, they welcomed rogue cultivators since it was a clan-based force. So, it's no surprise the Ghostwind bandits showed up around here."

Feng Zhongxin had dropped those words deliberately. His aim was to plant the idea in Wen Liren's mind that Zhao Hai likely had no clue about the Ghostwind bandits' treasure. Otherwise, Zhao Hai would have dashed off to hunt it down by now, not lingered in this place. Plus, with the Ghostwind bandits popping up in these parts so frequently before, didn't that suggest their treasure was hidden right where they'd been tailing the Ghostwind bandits originally?

Feng Zhongxin understood perfectly that his every utterance was crafted for Wen Liren's ears. The core message he aimed to convey was that Zhao Hai remained oblivious to the Ghostwind bandits' treasure. Yet, he knew better than to voice it outright. Wen Liren's fixation on this issue was too intense; blurting out that Zhao Hai might be unaware and they should drop their pursuit would only spark suspicion. Would Wen Liren think he coveted the treasure solo and decide to eliminate him? It was a real risk.

So, Feng Zhongxin shifted his approach when addressing Wen Liren, adopting a tone laced with doubt. By highlighting Zhao Hai's apparent ignorance of the treasure, he subtly implied to Wen Liren that the prize could be close by. Involving Zhao Hai under those circumstances would spell trouble, as it risked exposing their plans. After all, Zhao Hai's power was undeniable, and they still lacked a solid strategy to handle him.

Wen Liren remained seated in silence for quite a while, pondering Feng Zhongxin's statements deeply. There was merit in what Feng Zhongxin had said—it rang true to him. If he were in Feng Zhongxin's position and learned of the Ghostwind bandits' treasure, wouldn't he rush to claim it right away? Absolutely, he'd seize it without delay, fearing someone else might snatch it first. The fallout from that would be disastrous.

Yet Zhao Hai hadn't budged. He stayed put, even teaming up with Feng Zhongxin on missions. What could explain that? If Zhao Hai truly knew the Ghostwind bandits' treasure location, would he bother with tasks that paid mere dozens of Jingshi? It made no sense, but he persisted anyway. Why on earth?

Wen Liren knitted his brows tightly. He'd long assumed that since Zhao Hai wiped out the Ghostwind bandits, he must know their treasure's hiding spot. But this new angle cast doubt on that belief. They were aware the Ghostwind bandits had haunted this region for years, possibly safeguarding something valuable. Still, they'd dismissed the notion that the Ghostwind bandits' descendants were protecting treasures here. Why? If they were truly watching over such riches, how could they resist tapping into them? For nearly a millennium, they'd observed the Ghostwind bandits closely and knew their existence intimately. The descendants scraped by no better than typical rogue cultivators, inheriting only cultivation techniques—nothing more. The Ghostwind bandits mirrored that hardship.

Should the Ghostwind bandits' heir actually be guarding that treasure, it would have been claimed and utilized ages ago. They wouldn't endure such a meager existence indefinitely. Thus, the prevailing view had been that the Ghostwind bandits protected their ancestors' remains, not some hoard of wealth.

Still, Feng Zhongxin's input sowed seeds of uncertainty in Wen Liren's thoughts. Yet he soon latched onto another explanation and spoke gravely, "I believe pinpointing the Ghostwind bandits' treasure means zeroing in on Zou Xiao. If they're truly safeguarding it here without ever touching it, the treasure likely bears some restriction they can't breach. Zou Xiao might be stuck returning to this spot, scraping together crystals to crack that seal. I even suspect the restriction demands a blood sacrifice—recall how many folks the Ghostwind bandits' successors lured to their vanishing point over the years? Not all could have been for murder and looting, could they? More plausibly, it was for the ritual. Across all that time, we've failed to locate the Ghostwind bandits' treasure entrance, so unearthing it now rests squarely on Zou Xiao's shoulders."

Wen Liren's declaration made Feng Zhongxin's heart race with unease. He recognized it sealed their intent to target Zhao Hai. A wry smile tugged at his inner thoughts; his final chance to shield Zhao Hai had evaporated. But he knew displaying any oddity now could prove fatal if Wen Liren caught on. Thus, he replied, "Right, Brother Wen, got it. I'll dig into the poison Zou Xiao used and its antidote fast. That'll boost our odds against him."

Wen Liren gave a firm nod and intoned deeply, "We can't dawdle. Grant him too much leeway, and if Zou Xiao shatters the Ghostwind bandits' seal to seize the treasure, we'll end up empty-handed. A millennium of pursuit wasted in an instant."

"Understood, Brother Wen. Rest easy—I'll handle it," Feng Zhongxin affirmed resolutely. With that, he rose, offered a respectful bow to Wen Liren, and exited the room. He missed the peculiar glint that flickered in Wen Liren's gaze the moment he departed.

Staring at the shut door, Wen Liren murmured under his breath, "Soft-hearted? Heh, as if I wouldn't see through his motives for those words. Looks like I need to watch him closer." Finishing that, Wen Liren extended his hand to retrieve a communication disc. He then set a jade slip upon it. A flash of white light ensued, and the jade slip vanished. Only after did Wen Liren eye the disc and whisper, "Little brother, it all hinges on you now."

Should anyone overhear Wen Liren's mutterings, shock would ripple through them. After all, none knew of Wen Liren's younger sibling—not even Feng Zhongxin or the others. Yet here he was, dispatching a message to that hidden kin. How could that fail to stun?

Back in his quarters, Feng Zhongxin settled onto his bed, gaze fixed on the interspatial bag before him. He whispered, "Forgive me." Then he stowed it away. Resolve hardened in his eyes. He'd contemplated one final effort to rescue Zhao Hai, given the kindness Zhao Hai had shown. But reality hit hard—saving him was impossible. Persisting would endanger himself too. So, he resolved to abandon the rescue. As Wen Liren noted, their thousand-year quest for the treasure couldn't be forsaken lightly; quitting now promised dire results. He had to pursue those riches.

Decision made, Feng Zhongxin creased his forehead in concentration, mulling over his next move. Uncovering Zhao Hai's poison formula wouldn't be simple. For any poison cultivator, that recipe was their ultimate secret, guarded fiercely. Without it, confronting Zhao Hai later would leave them vulnerable—a scenario Feng Zhongxin refused to face.

Human nature often unfolds this way: a fleeting touch of empathy might inspire aid for another. But when peril looms, that resolve crumbles, replaced by fierce self-preservation and task completion. Feng Zhongxin embodied this now. Zhao Hai's generosity had earned his maximal support. Yet sacrificing his own prospects for Zhao Hai's sake? Never.

In truth, his earlier words to Wen Liren had served to persuade himself too. He'd genuinely believed Zhao Hai unaware of the Ghostwind bandits' treasure. But Wen Liren's counterpoint rang plausible. Thus, clashing with Zhao Hai became unavoidable. Though it gnawed at him, securing the Ghostwind bandits' treasure would elevate his power immensely. He craved Island Lord status, ascension, eternal life. For that, sacrificing Zhao Hai proved essential.

Prior aid to Zhao Hai stemmed from gratitude and lingering morality. But with colossal rewards dangling within reach, morality yielded to greed's pull. Feng Zhongxin steeled himself for all-out assault on Zhao Hai.

As Feng Zhongxin pondered poison recipe acquisition in his room, a soft rap echoed at the door. Jolted, he approached and swung it open to see Wang Liang waiting. Upon spotting him, Wang Liang urged, "Head to Boss Wen's room—great news awaits." Feng Zhongxin's eyes sparked with interest. He nodded swiftly and trailed Wang Liang to Wen Liren's quarters.

Upon entering Wen Liren's space, they found most of the group assembled. Wen Liren surveyed them with a grin and announced, "Good, everyone's here except the one eyeing Zou Xiao. I gathered you all for some excellent tidings. Wang Liang snagged a stalk of Thousand Days Intoxicating Herb from the market. No need to spell out its purpose, eh?" He scanned the faces afterward. Eyes gleamed across the room. They all grasped the Thousand Days Drunk Vanilla's essence: a herb that, steeped in water, mimicked wine's aroma and flavor. Its hallmark? One sip plunged the drinker into stupor for at least a thousand days unless doused with cold water. Utterly potent.